He219
01-16-2004, 08:57 PM
http://home.eircom.net/images/32881/2328596
German Defence Minister shakes his tail-feather
Four hundred German soldiers were cheering an imitation Blues Brothers band when a surprise guest with a black hat, black suit and dark sunglasses jumped out on the stage to belt out a rendition of an Elvis classic.
The Blues Brothers lookalike was German Defence Minister Peter Struck, a 60-year-old grandfather figure at the top of the country's armed forces, who brought the troops on a Kosovo peacekeeping mission to their feet with the rock classic, Jailhouse Rock.
Mr Struck's rather loud performances of Jailhouse Rock and a few other rock numbers may not have been on key, but the Defence Minister is nevertheless in tune with his soldiers.
In the 17 months since taking the job, Mr Struck has become one of the most popular and respected post-war Defence Ministers.
He also helped patch up a rift with the United States over German opposition to the Iraq war without losing his sense of humor.
"I just like to sing," Struck said in an interview with *******. "I do enjoy doing that sort of thing. But my staff tell me that I shouldn't go over the top. I've had three performances on stage. I guess I should wait a while for the next one."
Struck, who is charge of 285,000 soldiers, shrugs off any worries he may be making a fool of himself singing rock songs by the Blues Brothers and Harry Belafonte at the age of 60 and says he has no plans of giving up his other atypical hobby -- tours on his beloved motorcycle.
"I always wanted to be a professional football player," Struck said when asked if his itch to sing to the troops was a belated attempt to fulfill earlier hopes for career as a singer. "Just think of what those guys earn!"
Struck has also pointedly reminded the United States that, even though Germany isn't going to send troops to Iraq, it has helped their allies by filling in for guard duty at U.S. military installations in Germany -- some 2,500 soldiers.
"They're out there in front of U.S. bases freezing their arses off," Struck was recently quoted saying in Die Zeit newspaper. "We're taking a big load off of the Americans here."
1.00 MB Peter Struck Video (http://www.heartandsoul-bonn.de/download/Jailhouse%20Rock%20mit%20Peter%20Struck.wmv)- 20 Sec
:lol:
Who says Germans don't have a sense of humor...
http://www.hogansheroesfanclub.com/images/photoHH23300_small.jpg
German Defence Minister shakes his tail-feather
Four hundred German soldiers were cheering an imitation Blues Brothers band when a surprise guest with a black hat, black suit and dark sunglasses jumped out on the stage to belt out a rendition of an Elvis classic.
The Blues Brothers lookalike was German Defence Minister Peter Struck, a 60-year-old grandfather figure at the top of the country's armed forces, who brought the troops on a Kosovo peacekeeping mission to their feet with the rock classic, Jailhouse Rock.
Mr Struck's rather loud performances of Jailhouse Rock and a few other rock numbers may not have been on key, but the Defence Minister is nevertheless in tune with his soldiers.
In the 17 months since taking the job, Mr Struck has become one of the most popular and respected post-war Defence Ministers.
He also helped patch up a rift with the United States over German opposition to the Iraq war without losing his sense of humor.
"I just like to sing," Struck said in an interview with *******. "I do enjoy doing that sort of thing. But my staff tell me that I shouldn't go over the top. I've had three performances on stage. I guess I should wait a while for the next one."
Struck, who is charge of 285,000 soldiers, shrugs off any worries he may be making a fool of himself singing rock songs by the Blues Brothers and Harry Belafonte at the age of 60 and says he has no plans of giving up his other atypical hobby -- tours on his beloved motorcycle.
"I always wanted to be a professional football player," Struck said when asked if his itch to sing to the troops was a belated attempt to fulfill earlier hopes for career as a singer. "Just think of what those guys earn!"
Struck has also pointedly reminded the United States that, even though Germany isn't going to send troops to Iraq, it has helped their allies by filling in for guard duty at U.S. military installations in Germany -- some 2,500 soldiers.
"They're out there in front of U.S. bases freezing their arses off," Struck was recently quoted saying in Die Zeit newspaper. "We're taking a big load off of the Americans here."
1.00 MB Peter Struck Video (http://www.heartandsoul-bonn.de/download/Jailhouse%20Rock%20mit%20Peter%20Struck.wmv)- 20 Sec
:lol:
Who says Germans don't have a sense of humor...
http://www.hogansheroesfanclub.com/images/photoHH23300_small.jpg